Date of Award

Spring 2009

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Counseling

Degree Name

Master of Arts

First Advisor

Janet Elizabeth Falvey

Abstract

The need for further investigation into the variables that are related to college first-year students' success in school is critical in determining how to increase the retention rates of college students. This study examines the correlations between friendship, college adjustment, and self-efficacy, with college adjustment and self-efficacy being measured by the College Adjustment Test (CAT), and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSES), respectively. The sample was obtained from two universities located in New England. Ninety students participated; sixty-six (73.3%) were female, and 24 (26.7%) were male. The Spearman Rho correlation was used to determine the degree of the relationship between self-efficacy and the composition of friendships during the college first-year adjustment period. Results applied to all three research questions indicated no significant relationship between self-efficacy and how the participants' majority of friendships were composed, and between self-efficacy and when the participants met their best friend(s).

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